From gunshots to cash demands, the incidents have unsettled the Indian industry, decades after police crackdowns weakened the criminal gangs once deeply embedded in the multi-billion-dollar business.

Police have linked the latest violence to the gang of Lawrence Bishnoi, a convicted Indian gangster accused by US prosecutors of directing a global criminal network from behind bars.

“Stars are moving around with bodyguards on either side,” actor and security agency owner Ronit Roy said. “There has been a sharp increase in demand… Requests have expanded beyond just lead actors, to include family members and children.”

Author S. Hussain Zaidi, a former investigative journalist, said opportunistic criminals were exploiting the notoriety of established gangsters. “Some desperadoes are opening fire in the air to scare the industry and spread fear,” Zaidi told AFP. “And they have succeeded — as people have started believing that the mafia-dominated 1990s era is back.”

The latest incidents include gunfire targeting actor Tiger Shroff’s car in Mumbai in October, and an alleged $600,000 extortion demand against actor Tusshar Kapoor.

Police have arrested 13 people under organised crime laws in connection with the October shooting, alleging it was intended to extort money, establish gang dominance and spread fear.

Police said there had also been surveillance of other prominent figures. They have named Anil Pandit, an alleged Bishnoi gang member, as wanted in connection with the shooting.

Darkest periods

Anxiety reverberating across the industry has spilt into public view.

Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan recently greeted fans from behind a bulletproof enclosure outside his Mumbai home during his customary Sunday appearance, while security was beefed up around actor Shah Rukh Khan’s home for his birthday.

But Zaidi said the major gangsters of the 1990s were now dead, imprisoned or inactive. “The only gangster we hear of these days is Lawrence Bishnoi and even he is in jail, so there is no way that any local Mumbai-based gangster has control over the city,” he said.

The late 1990s and early 2000s were among Bollywood’s darkest periods, when criminal syndicates used threats, extortion and violence to influence film financing, casting and distribution.

They included Dawood Ibrahim, a UN-sanctioned fugitive accused of involvement in the 1993 Mumbai bombings that killed 257 people, and his former lieutenant turned rival Chhota Rajan, who is behind bars in India.

Producers were pressured to pay protection money, surrender business interests and bow to gangsters’ demands.

The underworld’s influence waned as police intensified operations, strengthened by laws passed in 1999 targeting organised crime, while the growth of corporate financing further reduced gangsters’ inf­luence over the film business.

Rajiv Rai, director of the hit thriller Gupt, received extortion demands and threatening calls in the late 1990s before eventually leaving India for Britain.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2026

ANTALYA: Act now against the devastating effects of El Nino or pay double later, the head of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) warned on Friday as delegates debated how to finance climate action at the COP31 talks in Turkey.

“The needs to hedge the impact of El Nino are $36 billion if you do it now,” the agency’s chief, Alexander De Croo, said in an interview in the Turkish resort of Antalya. “If you don’t do it, the cost will be $73bn. So the cost would be two times as high.”

El Nino heats Pacific Ocean waters every two to seven years, disrupting global wind patterns and rainfall. This exceptionally strong cycle has already battered economies worldwide.

“Not acting is the most expensive climate policy that you could have,” De Croo warned, urging major players such as the International Monetary Fund to help vulnerable developing nations mitigate the damage.

Developing countries want more financial support from wealthier nations historically responsible for global warming, though De Croo acknowledged rich governments face heavy debt burdens and war costs.

Still, he argued vulnerable nations have had no time to recover from compounding crises: the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, “and now El Nino, and now the cost of financing”.

A UN report this week noted African Development Bank estimates of $10bn to $20bn in regional damage, while the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean projected cumulative GDP losses of at least 2pc over three years, pushing 4.8 million people into poverty.

While De Croo pressed for immediate adaptation investments and policy reforms to lower capital costs across 47 partner nations, questions over long-term global climate leadership also surfaced on the sidelines of the Antalya summit.

Separately, China has decided against hosting the UN’s annual climate talks in 2028 after considering the possibility in recent months, sources familiar with the issue said Friday on condition of anonymity at COP31.

Beijing’s decision leaves the door open for another Asia-Pacific nation to organise COP33, as it is the region’s turn to host. India withdrew its offer in April without specifying a reason, while South Korea has previously expressed interest.

Asked about the decision, first reported by The Guardian, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said he was unaware of the situation, adding that China remains committed to “promoting the global green and low-carbon transition”.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2026

WASHINGTON: A sweeping Microsoft outage plunged vital infrastructure into chaos across the globe on Friday, paralysing healthcare systems, freezing visa processing and leaving businesses struggling to operate.

The disruption went global within an hour, knocking out Microsoft 365 products — including Outlook, Teams and its AI assistant, Copilot — in 74 countries and territories, according to outage tracker Downdetector.

Microsoft attributed the connectivity errors to “elevated load” on a portion of its infrastructure across multiple regions, adding it was “not aware of any malicious activity that is causing this incident”.

Although Downdetector reports began declining by 9am GMT, the tech giant reported difficulties in fully restoring service despite the fixes it had put in place.

In an update, Microsoft noted “broader improvements in North America, sustained improvements across much of Europe, and encouraging recovery signals in Asia-Pacific”.

Across the globe, the fallout crippled vital public services. In the UK, a top trade union warned the outage was having a “serious impact” on the National Health Service. Emergency call handlers were “unable to refer patient details in the normal way which is creating a massive backlog and has the potential for chaos”, said Rachel Harrison, public services head at the GMB union.

Meanwhile, Immigration New Zealand paused the processing of all visa applications until further notice. In India, airlines IndiGo and Akasa Air warned on X that email support services were affected and customer queries might not get through.

Japan’s Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Ryosei Akazawa told Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun there was no doubt the outage would cause a “significant impact”, adding officials would “closely monitor the situation and take every possible measure to address it”.

In Australia, Australian Computer Society CEO Prins Ralston called for a national review of sovereign IT risk, telling publication Information Age, “We need to know the systems that keep this country running won’t simply fall over without notice”.

The failure also rattled the corporate world, exposing heavy reliance on Micr­osoft’s tools in London’s financial district.

“I think one of the biggest things is Copilot not working, and you can sort of see the dependency now on Copilot,” said Yashmit Sharma, an auditor.

Sheera, a risk manager at a mid-sized company, said businesses needed to be better prepared for unexpected technology failures. “Anything can happen: you wake up and Outlook is not working and it’s the main communication we use for our global team,” she said.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2026

Fighting has flared since a 2022 truce fell apart over the summer, with violence intensifying after Yemen’s Saudi-backed government lost control of the Red Sea coastline along the strategic Bab al-Mandab strait in September.

The Houthis are now advancing east, consolidating their gains near the Red Sea while also moving closer to the Gulf of Aden. They have been taking hold of strategic hilltops in the Al-Madaribah wal Ara district overlooking Aden province, the sources said.

“We received high-level directives to establish military fortifications west and north of Aden Governorate, as the threat to the government’s interim capital draws nearer,” one of the military officials said.

The fortifications inc­lude stacking up sandbags and digging tunnels.

All the sources req­uested anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.

Government forces have repeatedly tried to regain control of the Red Sea coast to no avail, with battles killing dozens on both sides in the past couple of days, according to government and Houthi sources.

Another of the military officials described the fortification outside Aden as a long-overdue precautionary measure.

The third military sou­rce, a field officer on the ground, said the Hou­this were advancing east of the strait towards the Gulf of Aden coast after taking large parts of Al-Madaribah wal Ara district.

Nearby also lies the region of Al-Maqatirah, home to a road serving as the main gateway to Taiz, which has been besieged by the Houthis for weeks.

The source said Al-Maqatirah had been captured by Houthis, complicating government efforts to retake Taiz and opening the door to further advances in Al-Madaribah.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2026

WASHINGTON: Pakistan used a United Nations Security Council deb­ate on Thursday to reinforce its support for Saudi Arabia against Houthi attacks while reiterating its commitment to Yemen’s sovereignty and a Yemeni-led political settlement.

The debate followed the council’s consensus adoption of a resolution renewing sanctions against individuals and entities threatening Yemen’s peace and stability.

The measure also moves to restrict the Houthis’ access to components and chemicals used in manufacturing drones and missiles, while condemning their military escalation inside Yemen and cross-border strikes against Saudi Arabia.

Under the resolution, the council extended a targeted asset freeze and travel ban on individuals associated with the group until Nov 14, 2027, and renewed the mandate of the Panel of Experts monitoring the sanctions until Dec 15, 2027.

It demanded that the Houthis halt their offensive, stop attacks on Saudi Arabia and end threats to commercial shipping, while reaffirming the open-ended arms embargo imposed in April 2015.

Pakistan supported the consensus measure and its permanent representative, Ambassador Syed Haider Shah, condemned continued Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia and called for their immediate and unconditional cessation.

“Saudi Arabia has a legitimate right to defend its territory and protect its citizens and residents in accordance with the UN Charter and international law,” Mr Shah said, expressing Pakistan’s full solidarity with the kingdom’s leadership, government and people.

He described acco­untability for those threatening Yem­en’s security as essential to creating conditions for lasting peace, adding that Pakistan’s support reaffirmed the importance Islamabad attaches to the Security Council’s 2140 Committee.

The resolution, addressing the Houthis’ ability to manufacture wea­pons locally using commercial parts and precursor chemicals, tasks council members with deciding by Jan 11 what measures to take to block the militia from acquiring specified items, based on an expert panel list.

UN monitors found the Houthis maintain their arsenal through smuggling and diverting civilian-use equipment, reducing reliance on outside supplies.

The council expanded the panel’s responsibilities to examine revenues the Houthis generate from controlling key economic sectors and recommend ways to prevent funds from being diverted to military activities.

The text also reaffirmed that arbitrary detention of UN, diplomatic and humanitarian personnel could warrant additional sanctions, following the death in Houthi custody of UN Human Rights Office employee Mohammad El-Shami.

Despite the consensus, negotiations proved difficult. Britain sought to restore language describing the Houthis as a terrorist group — used in sanctions resolutions since 2022 — but dropped the effort after Russia objected that it could undermine political talks. China, backed by Russia, objected to the proposed list of dual-use items and the expansion of the expert panel’s mandate. References to alleged Houthi links with Al-Shabaab in Somalia were also removed.

Yemen’s UN Ambassador Abd­ul­lah Al-Saadi regretted that the council “was not able to agree on naming things with their names”.

Meanwhile, Paki­s­tan stressed that the conflict requires a political settlement respecting Yemen’s sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity. Mr Shah called for “an inclusive political process that is Yemeni-owned and Yemeni-led” under UN leadership, reaffirming Islamabad’s support.

On sanctions, he emphasised that the Panel of Experts must operate strictly within its mandate.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2026

TEHRAN / WASHINGTON: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said on Friday its forces targeted and destroyed a US early-warning radar system in Bahrain, while the US military denied the claim and said it shot down two Iranian attack drones headed towards the Gulf island.

“A few hours ago, IRGC Aerospace Force fighters targeted and destroyed the US aggressors’ early-warning radar on the island of Bahrain,” the IRGC said in a statement carried by Iranian state media.

The Guards said the operation was retaliation for a US air attack on a telecommunications tower in Sirik, located in Iran’s southern Hormozgan province, on the shores of the Strait of Hormuz.

“This is a serious warning to the aggressor enemy to stop its aerial provocations and oil smuggling in the Strait of Hormuz,” the Guards added.

Several hours later, US Central Command (Centcom) rejected the Iranian claim, saying its forces had intercepted two “one-way attack drones” launched at Bahrain and reported no casualties or damage.

Move to block war funding

Meanwhile, four US senators have threatened to block a government funding agreement unless it includes provisions barring the Trump administration from using federal money to continue military operations against Iran.

Michael Bennet (D-Colorado), Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland), Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) issued a joint statement on Thursday demanding that any short-term spending bill include explicit restrictions on funding the war.

“The American people do not want more war in the Middle East — but that is what President Trump has given them. Congress cannot allow Trump to continue his conflict — we must force him to end it,” they wrote.

In a separate statement, Senator Tim Kaine (D-Virginia) announced that he was preparing legislative language to end the war and hoped to attach it to the forthcoming funding measure.

Senator Patty Murray (D-Washington), the senior Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, said lawmakers were examining several options, including the duration of the temporary funding measure and possible restrictions on the administration’s spending authority.

The administration is said to be considering a temporary funding measure that would keep the government operating through March, although no final decision has been made.

IAEA concern

Amid the ongoing conflict, the UN nuclear watchdog urged Iran on Friday to take “incremental steps” to allow inspectors to return to key nuclear facilities, warning that such access is “critical”.

In a report seen by AFP, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said it was “critical” to conduct “verification activities in Iran without further delay” after nuclear sites were hit during a 12-day conflict with Israel and the US in June 2025 and the latest war.

“The director general encourages Iran to consider technical and gradual measures by which conditions are achieved that allow for the return of agency inspectors to Iran,” the report said.

Although inspectors visited the Bushehr nuclear plant in September, the agency said it is “increasingly concerned” about the Isfahan Fuel Enrichment Plant, noting it does not know the facility’s exact location, status or whether it contains nuclear material.

While acknowledging that military attacks created an “unprecedented situation”, the IAEA said a lack of cooperation leaves it unable to conclude that no declared nuclear material has been diverted from peaceful activities, raising a “serious proliferation concern” that “needs to be rectified with the utmost urgency”.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2026

KARACHI: The Pakis­tan Stock Exchange (PSX) opened on Friday under selling pressure, pushing the benchmark index below 177,000 points to an intraday low. Late buying at attractive valuations helped reverse the downturn, and the market closed higher in the weekend session.

Topline Securities Ltd said the index staged a notable intraday recovery, closing at 177,873.88, up 500.11 points, or 0.28 per cent. The benchmark remained volatile throughout the session, swinging between an intraday high of 1,910 points and a low of 508 points, reflecting mixed investor sentiment.

Market sentiment received a significant boost in the latter half of the session following material news from Mari Energies. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, Mari Minerals, the company announced a new porphyry copper-gold discovery at the East Siah Diq (ESD-1) target in Chagai, Balochistan. The development sparked renewed investor interest and helped turn sentiment positive, providing fresh impetus to the market’s recovery.

The discovery underscores the potential of Pakistan’s mineral resources and adds to the growing optimism about the country’s mining and exploration sector.

Mari Energies, Lucky Cement, Pakistan Petroleum, Pakistan Services and Fatima Fertiliser emerged as the leading positive contributors, collectively adding approximately 722 points to the benchmark index and providing substantial support to the market’s overall performance.

Meanwhile, market participation remained flat as trading volume dipped 2.58pc to 1.042 billion shares and turnover fell 2pc to Rs31bn.

Ali Najib, Deputy Head of Trading at Arif Habib Ltd, said volatility persisted as the market remained volatile amid cautious sentiment following two consecutive sessions of moderate to heavy selling. Investor sentiment improved in the second half, as likely institutional buying absorbed early profit-taking, with buying observed in energy, banking and technology stocks despite domestic political uncertainty and renewed tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.

Analysts expect the market to remain volatile amid domestic political uncertainty and profit-taking near the 180,000 resistance level. Selective buying may emerge at lower levels as investors turn their attention to domestic political developments.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2026

Even though attacks on tankers trying to transit the Strait of Hormuz have continued, Gulf shipments reached 18.4 million barrels per day — though that was still 26pc below pre-war levels, the Paris-based agency said in its monthly report.

“The oil market is showing tentative signs of rebalancing, with global oil supplies surpassing demand for the first time since the outbreak of the war in Iran,” the IEA said.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2026

Inaugurating the three-day ABAD In-House Exhibition of construction products on Friday, he announced that a one-window operation office would be established at ABAD House.

He said the Sindh government was moving towards digitisation alongside the single-window ope­ration, with the Sindh Building Control Authority director general and the government team working closely to resolve the sector’s issues on a priority basis.

The facility would address the problems of builders and developers, simplify approval processes and promote business activity, he said.

Mr Shah said development work was under way on more than 150 small and major roads across Sindh.

“Our desire is that discussions should focus on Pakistan’s development, business opportunities and the promotion of investment. Pakistan is receiving positive recognition internationally, and we should benefit from this favourable environment,” he said.

He said the government wanted local and foreign investors to invest in Pakistan, and the business community must be provided maximum facilities so capital could be utilised within the country instead of being transferred abroad.

He added that efforts were under way to improve matters relating to the Provincial Finance Commission and the National Finance Commission, while governance issues also required special attention.

Speaking as guest of honour, Sindh Governor Nihal Hashmi advised participating companies to explore international markets and export their products, saying increased exports would contribute to Pakistan’s economic development.

He said the federal government was also providing financial resources for Karachi’s development, adding that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was well aware of the city’s importance.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2026

The latest data posted by the State Bank showed that the total domestic debt stood at Rs57.757 trillion at the end of the first quarter on Sept 30, down from Rs59.393tr on June 30, marking a decline of Rs1.636tr in a single quarter.

Revenue has increased each year, while the government reduced the fiscal deficit in FY26. With the country in an IMF programme, the government is tightening the deficit further this fiscal year.

Recently, Planning, Development and Special Initiative Minister Ahsan Iqbal said the fiscal deficit narrowed to 2.6pc of GDP in FY26, compared with 5.4pc in FY25, marking the lowest fiscal deficit recorded in two decades.

SBP data showed that the government’s net retirement of scheduled-bank debt rose sharply to Rs1.847tr in July-October FY27, up from Rs45bn in the same period last fiscal year. This indicates that debt repayments exceeded new borrowing.

Borrowing through the long-term Pakistan Investment Bonds (PIBs) declined by Rs1.756tr to Rs33.543tr at the end of the first quarter of FY27, which appears to reverse the trend. The government has long emphasised long-term bonds rather than short-term borrowing.

Borrowing through short-term Treasury bills also declined by Rs1.163tr to Rs9.640tr in the first quarter of FY27.

External debt increased in rupee terms from Rs24.2tr on June 30 to Rs24.9tr on Sept 30, a rise of Rs700bn.

Over the 12 months, total domestic debt rose by Rs4.331tr to Rs57.757tr on Sept 30. The increase was concentrated in FY26, not FY27.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2026

The index, comprising 51 items, whose prices are collected from 50 markets in 17 cities, is calculated weekly to track changes in the prices of essential commodities and services.

The data showed that the prices of 19 commodities increased, while those of 9 items declined. Mean­­while, the prices of 23 ite­ms remained unchanged from the previous week.

Short-term inflation has remained in the double digits for several consecutive weeks, largely due to persistently elevated petrol and diesel prices. However, oil prices have been slowly declining for the past three consecutive days.

The impact of this dec­line will be visible in the next review. However, the unprecedented incr­e­a­se in the LPG price cau­sed short-term inflation to rise.

The SPI declined by 0.46pc week-on-week, reflecting price fluctuations in both food and non-food items.

The items that recorded the highest price increases over the previous week in­­cluded tomatoes (12.06pc), eggs (5.98pc), potatoes (2.42pc), garlic (1.76pc), chicken (1.32pc), firewood (1.10pc), wheat flour (0.94pc), pulse masoor (0.64pc), beef (0.47pc), and LPG (0.30pc).

Items that recorded week-on-week price declines included petrol (7.42pc), diesel (6.10pc), onions (1.70pc), bananas (1.03pc), gur (0.59pc), sugar (0.43pc), powdered milk (0.36pc), pulse moong (0.32pc), and pulse gram (0.08pc).

On an annual basis, the items that recorded the highest price increa­s­­es in­­cluded LPG (111.35pc), tomatoes (78.94pc), electricity for Q1 (52.38pc), wheat flour (36.14pc), die­­sel (30.77pc), petrol (26.23pc), onions (19.67pc), chilli powder (15.55pc), mutton (14.67pc), bread pla­in (12.35pc), beef (11.30pc) and chicken (10.98pc).

In contrast, potato pri­ces fell by 36.41pc, sugar (24.54pc), eggs (23.29pc), salt powder (12.51pc), pulse masoor (7.21pc), pulse moong (6.83pc) and gur (6.63pc).

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2026

During a briefing to Agriculture Minister Ashiq Kirmani on Friday, the officials claimed that so far 51pc of the total cultivated area had been sown through line sowing, while the use of certified seed stood at 44pc.

The minister directed that field formations must actively support farmers throughout the wheat cultivation campaign to ensure the prescribed targets are achieved. He stressed that quality seeds and fertilisers must be available to farmers at notified prices.

The meeting also reviewed paddy harvesting, measures to prevent crop residue burning and initiatives under the smog control programme.

The meeting was informed that under the fifth phase of the Kissan Card scheme, agricultural loans worth Rs100 billion have been approved for one million farmers. Of these, 818,000 farmers have already been provided with credit facilities, while loans amounting to Rs26bn have been utilised.

Under the fourth phase of the Green Tractor Pro­gramme, 1,840 tractors have been distributed, while 9,500 locally manufactured and imported tractors will be provided in the fifth phase.

A total of 305,000 applications had been received, out of which verification of 188,000 applications has been completed.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2026

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s fiscal buffers weakened in the first quarter of the current fiscal year despite expenditure controls and subsidy cuts, as revenue-to-GDP ratios declined and provincial cash surpluses shrank.

The overall fiscal surplus fell to 0.9 per cent of GDP in July-September this year from 1.7pc a year ago, according to fiscal operations data released by the Ministry of Finance.

In absolute terms, the surplus declined by 40pc to Rs1.273 trillion in the first three months of the current fiscal year compared to Rs2.12tr a year earlier.

The primary surplus — the difference between total revenue and expenditure excluding interest payments — also narrowed to 2.1pc of GDP from 2.8pc in the corresponding period last year. It stood at Rs2.97tr, down 15pc from Rs3.5tr in the first quarter of the previous fiscal year.

Total revenue declined to 4.2pc of GDP from 4.9pc a year earlier. In a rare happening, revenue also fell in absolute terms to Rs6.004tr from Rs6.2tr, despite inflationary pressures and nominal economic growth that normally contribute to higher collections.

The deterioration was reflected in both tax and non-tax revenue ratios, although the larger decline came from non-tax revenue, which fell to 1.8pc of GDP (Rs2.6tr) by the end of September 2026 compared to 2.4pc (Rs3.046tr) a year earlier.

This was mainly due to lower State Bank profits, which dropped to Rs1.933tr from Rs2.43tr. However, petroleum receipts increased slightly to Rs382bn from Rs372bn.

Tax revenue slipped to 2.4pc of GDP from 2.5pc a year earlier, although collections increased in absolute terms to Rs3.387tr from Rs3.153tr.

On the expenditure side, total spending increased both as a percentage of GDP and in absolute terms.

The expenditure-to-GDP ratio rose to 3.3pc from 3.2pc, while total expenditure increased by 16pc to Rs4.73tr from Rs4.08tr last year.

Current expenditure declined as a share of GDP to 3pc from 3.2pc, although it increased in absolute terms to Rs4.293tr from Rs4.047tr.

A major contributor to higher spending was the increase in interest payments, which rose by more than 23pc to Rs1.7tr from Rs1.378tr. As a share of GDP, these payments increased to 1.2pc from 1.1pc.

Defence expenditure declined as a share of GDP to 0.3pc from 0.4pc, although it rose in absolute terms to Rs496bn from Rs447bn.

Development expenditure remained unchanged at 0.3pc of GDP but increased to Rs468bn from Rs440bn.

The data showed that subsidies were curtailed to Rs84.6bn (0.2pc of GDP) compared to Rs120bn (0.3pc) in the same period last year.

Pension expenditure and the cost of running the civil government increased by 10pc and 6pc to Rs495bn and Rs263bn, respectively.

Meanwhile, cash surpluses generated by the four provincial governments declined by 23pc to Rs600bn from Rs781bn last year.

Punjab’s surplus fell to Rs333bn from Rs442bn, while Sindh’s surplus declined to Rs181bn from Rs209bn.

However, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa increased its surplus by 33pc to Rs102bn from Rs77bn. Balochistan recorded a Rs16bn deficit in the first quarter against a surplus of Rs53bn in the corresponding period last year.

The Ministry of Finance also reported a statistical discrepancy of Rs60bn in provincial accounts and attributed it to uncleared or delayed payments, late presentation of cheques relating to assignment accounts and movements in commercial bank deposits.

A federal statistical discrepancy of Rs98bn was attributed to reporting time lags, book adjustments involving the State Bank of Pakistan, Federal Board of Reve­nue and Economic Affairs Division and a decline in commercial bank deposits.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2026

The company is now moving towards its first estimate of the area’s mineral resources.

One of the drill holes revealed a 295-metre stretch of mineral deposits containing 0.43 per cent copper and 0.13pc of gold per tonne. Within this, a 132-metre section showed a higher copper concentration of 0.83pc, NRL Chairman Muhammad Ali Tabba told the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2026.

The discoveries cover an area of 5.6 square kilometres in Darigwan, adjoining the company’s earlier discovery at the Tang Kaur copper-gold site.

NRL reports encouraging drilling in Chagai; Mari’s find lies 50km east of Reko Diq

Mr Tabba said further exploration at the exploration licence EL214 was expected to help determine the size of the mineral deposits, subject to the completion of exploration work and a formal assessment of the resources.

A joint venture between Fatima Fertilisers, Liberty Mills and Lucky Cement Ltd, NRL holds five exploration licences in Balochistan. These comprise two copper-gold projects, one lead-zinc project and two antimony projects, with exploration work under way.

NRL plans to begin environmental, hydrogeological, metallurgical, and geotechnical studies in 2027, aiming to complete a bankable feasibility study by the end of the decade.

Mr Tabba reaffirmed NRL’s previously announced $100 million commitment to mineral exploration in Pakistan and invited domestic and international investors and service providers to explore emerging opportunities.

Although preliminary resource estimates have been prepared by an independent consultant, the company is withholding their release pending compliance with international reporting requirements. NRL is working towards completing its maiden mineral resource estimate in line with international standards.

The company has also partnered with the Lahore University of Management Sciences to develop a predictive artificial intelligence model to accelerate exploration, using geological modelling and data gathered through its drilling programme.

“Our ambition is to build a world-class mineral exploration platform and contribute to an integrated mineral value chain, spanning discovery, mining, processing and further value addition,” Mr Tabba added.

Another discovery near Reko Diq

Meanwhile, Mari Energies Ltd, one of the country’s leading oil and gas producers, on Friday announced a significant copper-gold discovery at the East Siah Diq (ESD-1) target in Chagai district, Balochistan.

The announcement was made by Mari Energies Ltd’s Managing Director and CEO Faheem Haider at the PMIF26. The discovery was made through the company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Mari Minerals (Pvt) Ltd.

The discovery is located approximately 50km east of the Reko Diq copper-gold mine development project and 25km northwest of Nokkundi in the Koh-i-Sultan area. Mari Minerals holds multiple exploration licences in District Chagai.

Approximately 25,000 metres of exploration drilling have been completed at ESD-1 in two phases, with drill holes extending to 500 metres. Drilling has identified porphyry copper-style mineralisation beneath approximately 100 metres of overburden, across an area of approximately 1.4 sq km, the statement said.

“The East Siah Diq discovery marks an important milestone in our minerals exploration programme and strengthens our confidence in the geological potential of Chagai. Our focus now is to advance exploration and technical studies to establish the scale and development potential of this discovery,” Mr Haider said while speaking at the PMIF26.

He added that the company was committed to responsible exploration and building long-term value for Pakistan and its stakeholders.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2026

At its executive committee meeting, chaired by APNS Chairman Senator Sarmad Ali, members of the society also pointed out that the newspaper registration process had become excessively slow and proposed that the relevant rules and regulations be simplified and made more accessible through consultations with all stakeholders.

“The Executive Committee further demanded that the PID provide newspapers with complete details of payments made against their published advertisements. The members also urged the PID not to release advertisements to advertising agencies whose APNS membership had been suspended,” added the statement.

The meeting also expressed serious concern over delays in the payment of bills for May and June by the Sindh Information Department, stating that the prolonged delays had pushed newspapers into severe financial difficulties and threatened their very survival.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2026

The discussions took place during a meeting in Islamabad, attended by Balochistan Chief Secretary Shakeel Qadir Khan. Both sides explored opportunities for greater collaboration in education, healthcare, water supply and infrastructure, besides reviewing support for ongoing and future development projects.

Amgaabazar expressed the World Bank’s interest in deepening its partnership with Balochistan and expanding cooperation in key development sectors.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2026

The multiparty conference (MPC), presided over by the JUI-F provincial emir at his residence, reviewed the overall political situation and discussed measures to make the province-wide strike and protest successful.

The participants called on office-bearers and workers of all political parties to immediately convene meetings in their respective districts and launch public mobilisation campaigns to prepare people for the protest.

A statement issued after the meeting urged political parties, traders and people from all walks of life to extend full support to the ongoing protest movement, saying collective efforts were necessary to overcome the challenges facing the country and Balochistan.

The MPC also rejected the recommendations of a seminar on mineral resources held in Islamabad, describing the statement made by the Balochistan chief minister at the event as contrary to the facts.

It said all political parties in the province had rejected the Mines and Minerals Act and had not only launched protests but also approached the superior judiciary against the legislation.

The meeting recalled that an understanding had been reached to repeal the existing law and introduce a new one after consultations with political parties. It maintained that the recommendations emerging from the Islamabad seminar were unacceptable to the province’s political parties and people.

The participants also demanded the immediate release of all political prisoners across the country.

They strongly condemned what they described as negative campaigns against political leaders by the incumbent federal and provincial governments and their supporters.

The MPC statement also criticised the performance of the federal and provincial governments, claiming that they had failed to provide relief to the people and that citizens’ constitutional and legal rights were being undermined, while conditions across various sectors continued to deteriorate.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2026

The remarks came during a meeting with Bao Zong, head of the South Asian Division of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who met Mr Kasuri in Beijing on behalf of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Mr Wang sent a bouquet of flowers and warm wishes to Mr Kasuri, reaffirming the longstanding friendship and diplomatic ties between Pakistan and China.

During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on regional and international developments, including the situation surrounding Iran, and expressed confidence in the continued development of Pakistan-China cooperation.

Speaking about the 75 years of diplomatic ties bet­w­een Pakistan and China, Mr Kasuri said the relationship enjoyed broad national consensus in Pakistan and had remained consistent across successive governme­nts, irrespective of political or civil-military changes.

“Pakistan’s relations with China, Pakistan’s nuclear programme and Pakistan’s Kashmir policy are matters on which there is a national consensus,” he said, adding that the relationship did not depend on which political party or government was in power.

He said the people of Pakistan regarded China as a trusted friend that had consistently stood by the country in times of need. He described the warmth between the two nations as deeply rooted in people-to-people relations.

The former foreign minister expressed confidence in the future of bilateral cooperation, particularly under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). He said both countries would coordinate efforts to ensure greater security for Chinese personnel engaged in development projects in Pakistan.

Welcoming the upcoming participation of a Pakistani astronaut in a mission to China’s space station, Mr Kasuri described it as a significant symbol of bilateral friendship. He thanked the Chinese government for the gesture, saying it was deeply appreciated by the people of Pakistan.

On the broader international situation, Mr Kasuri said peace was essential for sustainable development and regional prosperity.

“I believe that whenever there was peace, there was progress. Without peace, no country can make progress.

“China has consistently supported Pakistan’s efforts to improve relations with India and never discouraged Islamabad from pursuing better bilateral ties,” he said.

He added that China’s peaceful rise offered an example for the developing world. He also expressed hope that people in both countries who supported peaceful relations would continue to contribute to greater regional understanding.

Discussing China’s development experience, Mr Kasuri said its progress offered valuable lessons for developing countries, particularly in investing in education, healthcare and human capital.

Recalling his visit to China in the 1990s, he said Shan­ghai had undergone a remarkable transformation over the decades, reflecting the country’s sustained development.

“The key is to invest in people. If you invest in people, you will see progress,” he said, adding that Pakistan could learn from China’s experience in developing its human resources and improving public services.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2026

In a statement issued here on Friday, Senator Rehman expressed her appreciation for Turkiye’s hosting of COP31 and its Presidency of this critical global climate conference, recognising Turkiye’s role in bringing the international community together at a time of growing geopolitical divisions and escalating climate emergencies.

“Pakistan deeply appreciates Turkiye’s leadership in hosting COP31. As a close friend and longstanding partner, Turkiye understands the devastating human and economic costs of climate disasters. Its Presidency offers an important opportunity to bridge divisions between developed and developing countries and restore confidence in multilateral climate action.

“We hope the Antalya conference will be remembered not simply for renewed pledges, but for translating climate solidarity into concrete fina­ncial commitments and meaningful outcomes for vulnerable nations.”

Referring to the UN Secretary-General’s address at the COP31 Leaders’ Summit, where he warned that “fossil fuels must go the way of the dinosaurs”, Senator Rehman stressed that the world could no longer afford the contradiction between climate commitments and continued support for fossil fuels.

“Governments cannot continue subsidising the very industries driving the climate crisis while pleading scarcity of resources when vulnerable countries demand climate fina­nce. Global fossil fuel subsidies are estimated at approximately $7 trillion.

“This is an extraordinary misallocation of resources at a time when countries on the climate frontlines are struggling to finance basic adaptation, resilience and recovery. The question is not whether the world has the resources, but whether it has the political will to redirect them,” Senator Rehman said.

She warned that the global temperature trajectory was becoming increasingly alarming, with the 1.5°C goal slipping further out of reach. According to Climate Action Tracker, current policies put the world on course for approximately 2.7 degrees centigrade of warming by the end of the century, up from its previous estimate of 2.6 degrees centigrade.

“The 1.5 degrees centigrade thre­shold is no longer alive, a 2.7 degrees centigrade trajectory would have devastating consequences for countries like Pakistan, where climate extremes are already undermining livelihoods, food security, water availability and economic stability.

“The cost of inaction will be measured in lost lives, displaced communities and development reversed by decades.”

Highlighting Pakistan’s escalating climate vulnerability, Senator Rehman recalled that the devastating floods of 2022 affected 33 million people and caused approximately $30 billion in damages and losses.

Agricultural losses from the 2025 floods alone have been estimated at $1 billion.

“These are not isolated disasters. They represent a recurring assault on Pakistan’s economy, food security, infrastructure and development prospects. Pakistan is not asking for charity. We are demanding climate justice, financial accountability and a fair international system,” she said.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2026

The Pakistan Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) will use these funds to procure more than 28 million vaccine doses to support polio campaigns in 2027, a press release of the Japanese embassy said on Friday.

Pakistan is one of only two countries in the world where wild poliovirus transmission has not yet been eliminated.

Fund will be utilised to purchase 28m doses

The country has made significant progress in reducing polio transmission, with cases declining from 74 in 2024 to 31 in 2025, and eight cases reported so far in 2026.

Six of the eight cases in 2026 have been reported from south Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where insecurity and access constraints continue to pose significant challenges to reaching every child. The continued detection of poliovirus underscores the need for sustained efforts to eliminate transmission everywhere and protect every child.

In an urgent effort to eradicate the incurable disease, the government, with support from partners, has developed the National Emergency Action Plan 2026–27 under the Roadmap to Zero, setting out a focused approach to interrupting poliovirus transmission by the end of 2027.

Each national immunisation drive targets over 45 million children under five, supported by more than 400,000 frontline health workers who play a vital role in reaching communities and delivering vaccines.

“The Government of Japan’s contribution comes at a critical time as Pakistan intensifies its efforts to interrupt poliovirus transmission and eliminate this preventable disease,” said Ms Ayesha Raza Farooq, the Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Polio Eradication.

“Every dose of vaccine supported through Japan’s contribution brings us closer to a polio-free Pakistan.

“We are grateful to the Government and people of Japan for their continued commitment and partnership in Pakistan’s efforts to eradicate polio and protect every child,” Ms Raza said.

Ambassador of Japan Akamatsu Shuichi reaffirmed Japan’s continued commitment to supporting Pakistan’s health priorities.

“Since 1996, Japan has consistently supported Pakistan’s polio eradication efforts, working closely with Unicef and other partners. Today’s new grant, which has been increased from last year, demonstrates Japan’s continued support for our shared goal of achieving a polio-free Pakistan,” he said.

“Japan fully supports Pakistan’s determination to achieve the goal of interrupting poliovirus transmission by the end of 2027.”

The newly signed grant will provide critical funding to the PEI for the procurement and delivery of polio vaccines, supporting ongoing progress to interrupt the spread of poliovirus and sustain the gains achieved in recent years.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2026

The resolution was moved by JUI-F MPA Shahida Rauf, who said teaching basic Arabic would help students understand commonly used Quranic words and their meanings, enabling them to develop a better understanding of the Holy Quran from an early age.

The resolution called for a simple, standardised and grade-wise curriculum covering basic Arabic vocabulary, grammar and commonly used Quranic expressions. It also stressed the need for trained teachers, quality textbooks, appropriate teaching materials and effective monitoring.

It recommended that the provincial government introduce the initiative through a phased programme, taking into account students’ ages, mental abilities and educational needs, with regular reviews of its implementation.

During the discussion, MPA Dr Abdul Malik Baloch recalled that legislation had been passed in 2013 to promote education in mother languages. He urged the government to implement that law alongside the proposed Arabic language programme.

Following the discussion, the Assembly unanimously approved the resolution, recommending the introduction of compulsory basic Arabic education in government primary schools throughout Balochistan.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2026

A source in the bureau told Dawn that as Asad Mehmood had not complied with the first notice issued on Nov 10, the NAB Rawalpindi/Islamabad Regional Office had served him a second notice, asking him to appear before its team on Friday. “How­ever, Asad Mehmood def­ied the second summons and did not visit the NAB office,” the source added.

According to sources, the anti-graft watchdog will soon serve a third notice on the former minister and, in case he ignores it, NAB could take stern action, including his arrest.

In such cases, NAB usually serves second and third notices on the accused and, if all three are ignored, the anti-graft watchdog takes punitive action, including the arrest of the accused.

Under the NAB notice, Asad Mehmood was req­uired to appear before the investigators to explain his position on alleged irregularities in 4,252 appointments at Pakistan Post during his 2022-23 tenure as federal minister.

Asad Mehmood had served as a federal minister during the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government in 2022-23.
Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2026

Three containers reportedly skidded off the Karakoram Highway (KKH) after the road became slippery. Their drivers were rescued. Gilgit-Baltistan Minister for Tourism Naiknaam Karim was also among the stranded passengers and expressed concern over the lack of facilities and machinery to clear snow on the Pakistani side.

A GB police official told Dawn that snowfall was continuing at Khunjerab Top, leaving several vehicles and dozens of containers carrying imported goods from China stranded for hours.

In a press release, the GB police spokesperson said heavy snowfall was continuing from Dhee Headquarters to Khunjerab Top, while accumulated snow had made the road hazardous for travel.

Tourists and travellers were advised to avoid unnecessary journeys and refrain from travelling towards Khunjerab until weather and road conditions improved. Stranded passengers complained that the government and relevant organisations had not started clearing the road for traffic.

The police spokesperson said a Chinese container had overturned after skidding on the snow-covered road. Local travellers and personnel of the Khunjerab Security Police launched a rescue operation and safely pulled the driver out of the vehicle. He remained unhurt.

Motorists were advised to avoid unnecessary travel during heavy snowfall and contact the police helpline at 15 before setting out to obtain the latest information about road conditions.

The stranded passengers said the area, situated at an altitude of over 15,000 feet, posed additional difficulties because of the risk of oxygen shortage and other problems.

In a video message, Minister Naiknaam Karim said snowfall had also occurred on the Chinese side, but the road had been cleared for traffic.

“However, after entering the Pakistani side, we found the road at Khunjerab Top covered with approximately four inches of snow and ice. Several vehicles, including two to three cars, have skidded due to slippery road conditions,” he said.

He regretted that the road had not been cleared and appealed to the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) to immediately deploy machinery to prevent further accidents.

Meanwhile, the Ghizer-Shandur Road was completely blocked to all types of traffic following a landslide at Hopper Pari after heavy rain on Thursday night.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2026

Justice Aminuddin Khan’s observation came during a dignified ceremony on Friday, held to mark the completion of the court’s first year. The occasion was full of pomp and circumstance, with a commemorative postage stamp being issued and souvenirs being presented to court officials and law officers.

But the court’s establishment, which in many ways upended the country’s established judicial hierarchy, has also had a major impact on the dispensation of justice over the past year.

Created under the controversial 27th Constitutional Amendment, the FCC came into being on Nov 13, 2025, and Justice Aminuddin was sworn in as the inaugural chief justice the next day.

FCC observes one full year since its formation, but some lawyers see no real cause for celebration

Soon after it was formed, around 22,259 cases out of a total of 56,058 pending before the Supreme Court were transferred to it, realigning the constitutional and appellate jurisdictions of the two forums.

For senior counsel Tariq Mehmood Khokhar, however, there was little cause for celebration.

“This is a moment for scrutiny,” he noted, saying that the FCC owes its origins to a praetorian diktat, enacted by an unrepresentative legislature and filled by executive appointments.

Calling for the cleansing and rebuilding of constitutional institutions tainted by raw power, he said that constitutional and democratic order must be restored and judicial independence reaffirmed.

The FCC, if it is to command public confidence, ought to contribute to that process, Mr Khokhar emphasised.

The Democratic Alliance, a confederation of lawyers led by former Pakistan Bar Council vice chairman Abid Saqi, also put out a statement terming the day “the death anniversary of judicial independence”.

“A court whose judges are effectively hand-picked by the executive cannot credibly adjudicate disputes in which that same executive is the principal party,” they noted.

This point of view is endorsed by several political actors, especially the joint opposition, which has accused the government of undermining democracy and compromising judicial independence through the 27th Amendment.

The criticism reached a fever pitch in the wake of a recent FCC order, restraining the Peshawar High Court from hearing pleas relating to the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Power struggle

The new top court formally commenced operations on Nov 17 by initially hearing cases within the premises of the Islamabad High Court on Constitution Avenue. Later, in December, the federal government housed the new forum inside the Federal Shariat Court building — located right opposite the Supreme Court — while the FSC was relocated to the IHC’s premises.

Later, the FCC CJ inducted a first batch of judges, boosting their ranks to seven against a sanctioned strength of 13.

However, the frosty relations between the SC and FCC were evident from the start, as no one from the Supreme Court — not even CJP Yahya Afridi — turned up for the swearing-in ceremony.

Today, despite the passage of a year, no further appointments or elevations have been made, though a proposal is under consideration to appoint a few more ad-hoc judges from different high courts for a specific time period, to help with the swift dispensation of pending cases.

One of the most significant moves came soon after its inception in December 2025, when the FCC sent a loud and clear message to all other courts in the country, stating that they were required to adhere to its judgements.

While deciding a property dispute, the FCC had held that Article 189 of the Constitution stipulated that any decision rendered by the Supreme Court, which resolves a question of law or enunciates a principle of law, was binding upon all other courts within Pakistan, with the exception of FCC.

“This exception arises from the 27th Amendment, which establishes that decisions issued by FCC are binding on all courts in Pakistan, including the Supreme Court itself. Consequently, all courts in Pakistan are constitutionally mandated to adhere to the judgments of FCC,” the judgment had emphasised.

Later, through a different ruling, the FCC made it clear that precedential hierarchy also stands restructured after the 27th Amendment, dispelling the impression that it was unconditionally bound by previous Supreme Court pronouncements – a position that was not necessarily required under the constitutional framework.

In May, though, CJP Yahya Afridi through a judgment elucidated the post-27th amendment judicial framework, by ruling that the constitutional scheme does not position either of the two apex courts — the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) and the Supreme Court — as an appellate forum over the other.

Rather, it treats both as coordinate courts exercising clearly demarcated jurisdictions over distinct classes of matters, the CJP had emphasised.

But to further assert its precedential seniority, the court last month regretted the course adopted by Supreme Court bench on a matter “already determined” by the FCC, and described the approach of one of the senior-most judges at the SC as “something that raises serious concerns regarding judicial discipline, legal norms and institutional propriety”.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2026

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has given the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) a fortnight to submit the federal government’s formal written request for holding local government elections in cantonment boards, warning that it would be left with no option but to pass appropriate orders if no response was received, it emerged on Friday.

Cantonment boards last held local government elections in 2015 and 2021. The ECP had previously stated that delimitation in all cantonments had been completed, but it was awaiting a formal request from the federal government and a response from the Ministry of Defence. The commission had written several letters to the ministry and also approached the prime minister, but received no response.

The direction was issued in an order passed on Nov 10 (Tuesday) by a five-member ECP bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja. The order, available on the commission’s website, was issued during proceedings concerning delays in holding local government elections in 42 cantonment boards across the country.

The commission noted that the terms of local governments in the cantonment boards had expired on April 11. Under Section 219(4) of the Elections Act, 2017, the ECP is required to hold local government elections within 120 days of the expiry of their terms. Accordingly, the elections were due by August 8.

According to the order, the ECP issued a schedule for the delimitation of wards in 42 cantonment boards on Jan 11, with the final delimitation list published on April 20.

A consultative meeting was held on April 15 with the additional secretary of the Ministry of Defence and the director general of the Military Lands and Cantonments Depart­ment (ML&CD) to discuss the election schedule and obtain the federal government’s formal request under Section 19-D(2) of the Cantonments Act, 1924.

The commission had directed the defence ministry to initiate a summary for obtaining the federal government’s request and forward it to the ECP.

It subsequently wrote to the defence secretary on May 14 and June 16, seeking the required document, the order stated. Chief Election Commissioner Raja also wrote to the PM on July 16, seeking his intervention to ensure submission of the formal request.

However, the government failed to furnish the document, prompting the ECP to take up the matter on July 21.

Representatives of the defence ministry and ML&CD expressed their willingness to facilitate the elections, while the commission directed them to pursue the matter with the PMO.

The ECP said it continued to seek updates through letters and rem­inders issued bet­ween July 31 and October 9, but the required request remained pending.

At a hearing on Oct 28, the legal adviser representing the respondents sought a two-week adjour­nment, citing the senior leadership’s engag­ements in important national and international affairs. The commission accepted the request and scheduled the next hearing for Nov 10.

At Tuesday’s hearing, retired Brig Falak Naz, legal adviser to the defence ministry, and Additional Director General of ML&CD Khalil Ahmad Rana told the commission that the ministry was ready to hold the elections, but the matter remained pending with the PMO.

They said the defence ministry had already forwarded the required request to the federal government and that there had been no delay on its part. However, no response had been received. They requested further time to pursue the matter.

After examining the record and hearing the parties, the ECP observed that it had made repeated efforts through correspondence, reminders, meetings and hearings, but the government had yet to fulfil the requirement under Section 19-D(2) of the Cantonments Act.

The commission said that both it and the defence ministry were ready to conduct the elections, adding that ministry representatives had confirmed that the matter was pending with the PMO.

It noted that Articles 140-A and 219(d) of the Constitution, read with Section 219 of the Elections Act, 2017, placed an obligation on the ECP to hold local government elections in the provinces, Islamabad and cantonment boards.

The ECP directed its office to once again approach the PMO through a letter, seeking submission of the federal government’s written request within a fortnight.

It warned that failure to receive a response within the stipulated period would leave it with no option but to pass appropriate orders.

The ECP also directed its office to take follow-up action and relist the matter after three weeks.

Of the 42 cantonments across the country, 20 are located in Punjab: Rawalpindi, Chaklala, Taxila, Wah, Attock, Kamra, Sanjwal, Jhelum, Mangla, Kharian, Murree Hills, Sargodha, Shorkot, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Lahore, Walton, Okara, Multan and Bahawalpur.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has 11 cantonments: Peshawar, Now­shera, Cherat, Risalpur, Mardan, Kohat, Bannu, D.I. Khan, Abbo­ttabad, Havelian and Murree Gallies.

Sindh has eight cantonments: Pano Aqil, Hyderabad, Karachi, Clifton, Manora, Malir, Faisal and Korangi Creek. Balochistan has three: Quetta, Loralai and Zhob.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2026

ISLAMABAD: Security forces killed 74 terrorists in intelligence-based ope­rations (IBOs) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, the military’s media wing said on Friday.

According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), 43 terrorists were killed during operations conducted over the past 48 hours in KP, including 35 in Mir Ali, North Waziristan district, and eight in Orakzai district.

Another 31 terrorists were killed in Balochistan during an operation launched on Nov 3.

“In a determined effort to eliminate terrorist threats and dismantle the Khwarij networks, security forces are conducting a series of intelligence-based operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. These operations have been further expanded to the areas of Mir Ali and Orakzai,” the ISPR said.

Fitna al-Khawarij is a term used by the state for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

ISPR said intense exchanges of fire took place during the operations, dealing a “significant blow” to terrorist networks operating in the areas.

It said a large cache of weapons, ammunition and explosives, including homemade explosives and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), was recovered during sanitisation operations.

The recoveries had thwarted plans by the terrorists to use the materials in attacks, the ISPR said, adding that operations were continuing to eliminate any remaining terrorists in the areas.

Operations in Balochistan

Separately, security forces killed 31 terrorists in Balochistan during a “comprehensive intelligence-based area sanitisation operation” launched on Nov 3 in the Kurram area of Quetta district.

The military’s media wing said the operation targeted terrorists belonging to Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan. The latter is a term used by the state for Balochistan-based terrorist groups to highlight India’s alleged involvement in terrorism and destabilisation in Pakistan.

“During the conduct of these intelligence-based operations, multiple terrorist hideouts were effectively engaged and after multiple engagements, thirty-one Indian-sponsored Khwarij were sent to hell. Weapons, ammunition and explosives were also recovered from the Khwariji locations,” the ISPR said.

It said sanitisation operations were continuing to eliminate any remaining terrorists in the area. The military reaffirmed that counterterrorism operations under the Azm-i-Istehkam initiative would continue to combat “foreign-sponsored terrorism”.

Saleem Shahid in Quetta also contributed to this report

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2026

The decision was taken at a meeting on Cashless Islamabad chaired by Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry on Thursday. Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Sohail Ashraf, representatives of the banking sector and other senior officials attended the meeting.

Speaking on the occasion, Tallal Chaudhry said consultation and suggestions from all stakeholders were important for the success of the Cashless Islamabad project.

He said implementation of the project was under way at a fast pace on the special instructions of the prime minister and interior minister.

After Nov 30, he said, no cash payment will be accepted in any department of the Islamabad Capital Territory administration and the CDA.

The target is to bring all merchants in Islamabad into the cashless system by Dec 31. He said the cash­less system would improve financial transparency, tax monitoring and the transaction system.

Tallal Chaudhry said 26,000 merchants in Islamabad had already been connected to the digital payments system. A digital payment facility will be provided at every level, from street vendors to major business centres, he said, adding that all relevant institutions would work together to make Islamabad a modern digital city.

Later talking to Dawn, the state minister said that from a pushcart merchant to big shop owners, all will use a QR code-based cashless system. He said in line with the vision of PM Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Islamabad is being developed as a model city for a cashless economy.

He said a cashless system has already been successfully introduced in Islamabad’s weekly baz­aars, CDA’s One-Win­dow Facilitation Centre, and metro and electric bus services.

Meanwhile, the scope of QR code-based payments is being rapidly expanded to all shopping malls and Class-III markets across the capital. A cashless system is also being introduced in hotels, guest houses, petrol pumps, and restaurants in the city.

Tallal Chaudhry said commercial banks must ensure comprehensive awa­reness for both merchants and citizens to promote cashless transactions. He added that all banks should offer maximum discounts and incentives to shopkeepers, traders, and consumers to encourage payments via Raast QR codes.

He said initiatives such as M-Tag and digital parking are also being introduced to transform Islamabad into a fully digital city.

He added that these measures will play a vital role in making Islamabad a completely cashless and digitised capital.

Representatives of the banking sector appreciated the government’s Cashless Islamabad initiative and assured full cooperation for its success.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2026

ISTANBUL: Days after its parliament ratified the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, Turkiye has entered into another mutual defence pact with Qatar, further deepening their military ties.

The agreement was among five signed as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who travelled to Istanbul after attending the UN climate conference in Antalya, at the Presidential Dolmabahce Office.

“A mutual defence agreement signed by Turkiye and Qatar today will add a new dimension to the brotherly ties between the two countries,” a statement from his office quoted Erdogan as saying.

While details of the agreement were not released, Erdogan said the two countries would continue working together “to prevent a renewed outbreak of war in the Gulf region and to promote dialogue and peace”.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and the head of the National Intelligence Organisation Ibrahim Kalin were also present at the meeting, which was held behind closed doors, TRT Haber reported.

In the meeting, Erdogan also stressed the importance of persuading parties in the region to resolve their differences through diplomacy.

The statement cited him as saying that Turkiye and Qatar were working to develop and diversify their energy partnership, and that their cooperation in the defence industry would continue to grow.

Turkiye is striving to develop and diversify its partnership with Qatar in the energy sector, and that cooperation in the defence industry will also continue to increase, Turkish state outlet TRT Haber quoted him as saying.

In a post on X following the meeting, Sheikh Tamim said the strategic partnership between Qatar and Turkiye continued to develop across various fields.

During the meeting between Erdogan and Sheikh Tamim, the Israeli attacks on Gaza and the humanitarian situation in the region, the normalisation steps in Syria, and the latest developments in Libya were also discussed.

In addition, four other agreements — covering trade, education, diplomacy — were also signed on the occasion of the 12th Meeting of the Turkiye-Qatar High Strategic Committee.

These included an MoU on ‘Cooperation in the Fields of Consumer Protection, Market Surveillance and Control’, an agreement on ‘Cooperation in the Field of Education’, an MoU on ‘Cooperation in Peace, Reconciliation and Conflict Resolution’ and the ‘Joint Declaration of the Twelfth Meeting of the High Strategic Committee’.

According to Middle East Eye, Turkiye and Qatar have had several defence agreements since 2017, including the hosting of Turkish troops in Doha, but the new deal obliges both countries to come to the other’s defence.

President Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif signed the Makkah defence pact on Aug 7. Under the agreement, an attack on one party constitutes an attack on all.

Alongside the Makkah alliance, Turkiye is also a member of the Nato military alliance and maintains the second largest standing army in the bloc after the United States.

In addition, Turkiye, Qatar, Pakistan, and Indonesia signed an agreement on Oct 21 to boost defence cooperation and strengthen defensive capabilities, named the ‘Badr’ accord.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2026

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s top civil and military leadership on Friday urged international investors to establish long-term partnerships across the mineral sector’s value chain, from mining and processing to refining and value-added manufacturing for exports, as the two-day mineral forum concluded with the signing of 13 agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs).

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir attended the event and assured participants from around 60 countries of security and investment protection.

Addressing the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2026 (PMIF26), PM Shehbaz invited international investors to explore Pakistan’s mineral wealth and shift their focus from exporting raw minerals to developing domestic processing and refining facilities, assuring them of full government support.

“Your safety is our safety,” the prime minister said as he pledged to address concerns raised by prospective investors.

He said Pakistan must move beyond exporting unprocessed resources and establish facilities to convert raw materials into finished and semi-finished products, generating greater economic value, employment, technical expertise and technology transfer.

The prime minister highlighted that copper and gold production at the Reko Diq project in Balochistan’s Tethyan copper belt was expected to begin in 2028 after the project had remained stalled for about two decades.

He called for Reko Diq and other projects along the Tethyan belt to establish refineries, smelters, cable and conductor factories and urged investors to “mine in Pakistan, process in Pakistan, manufacture in Pakistan and then export to the rest of the world”.

Referring to a Goldman Sachs projection that Pakistan could become the world’s sixth-largest economy by 2075, PM Shehbaz expressed hope that the country would achieve the milestone before 2050.

The premier also assured investors that the federal and provincial governments would work together to facilitate their projects and remove bureaucratic hurdles.

“If any file gets stuck due to bureaucratic delays or cumbersome procedures, bring it straight to me. I will personally ensure that it moves at lightning speed,” he said.

Field Marshal Munir also gave assurances to investors, stressing that all possible measures were being taken to ensure the security of the entire mining sector, including mines, workers, investments, industries and associated projects.

He said Pakistan’s ambition extended beyond exporting raw minerals to developing the complete value chain domestically, including refining and manufacturing.

Describing the conversion of mineral wealth into economic gains as a collective national goal, he stressed that communities in mineral-rich areas must benefit directly from mining projects.

He called for long-term partnerships that generated lasting value for Pakistan and its partners, urging the country to move “from potential to production, from promises to action, and from raw exports to value-added growth”.

The prime minister and Field Marshal Munir also inaugurated the National Minerals Data Centre and the Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP) GeoPortal.

The digital platforms are designed to improve access to geological information, support mineral exploration, reduce uncertainty for investors and facilitate informed investment decisions.

Barrick eyes processing investment

Later, during a meeting with a delegation of Barrick Mining Corporation led by its Chairman John Thornton, PM Shehbaz directed the relevant authorities to ensure that local communities, particularly those in Balochistan, benefited directly from mineral development projects.

He stressed the need to create employment and skills development opportunities for local youth and improve economic conditions in communities surrounding mining sites.

Describing Reko Diq as a project of strategic importance to Pakistan’s economic future, the prime minister welcomed Barrick’s participation in the forum.

The delegation expressed keen interest in investing in mineral processing industries in Karachi and Gwadar.

Meanwhile, addressing the forum, Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik said Pakistan was increasingly directing exploration towards minerals of strategic importance to global investors.

He highlighted modern geochemical and geophysical surveys, exploratory drilling and efforts to upgrade geoscience laboratories with advanced analytical technologies.

The minister cited copper and gold prospects in Chagai and western Balochistan, lithium, tin and tungsten in Gilgit-Baltistan, and antimony and base metals in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He said Pakistan was seeking a greater share of the global mineral value chain through domestic processing and refining, including efforts towards copper smelting.

Mr Malik said the GSP had accelerated its geological mapping programme, including surveys at a scale of 1:50,000, while international technical cooperation was strengthening digital mapping, airborne surveys and mineral assessment.

The digitisation of geological records would also improve investor access to reliable data and reduce exploration risks, he added.

The minister stressed that commercially viable mining required supporting infrastructure, including electricity, water, roads, railways and access to international markets.

He cited the planned upgrade of the Rohri-Nokundi railway corridor, connectivity to Port Qasim and infrastructure development around Reko Diq as important steps towards linking mineral-rich areas with global markets.

A major announcement during the forum came from the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO), which reported an estimated 350 million tonnes of copper in the Dasht-i-Kain area of Balochistan’s Chagai district, based on an analysis of approximately half of its drilling data.

The announcement highlighted the area’s exploration potential and added to the investment opportunities presented during the forum.

PMIF President and Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) CEO Ahmed Hayat Lak said the forum had brought together thousands of delegates, investors, diplomats, industry leaders and technical experts, helping translate Pakistan’s mineral potential into investment opportunities and strategic partnerships.

The second day’s programme also featured a government dialogue on developing investor-ready mining jurisdictions, with participants discussing policy certainty, regional cooperation, local content, skills development and long-term industrial growth.

International industry leaders, including Barrick’s Mr Thornton, Ivanhoe Mines Executive Chairman Robert Friedland and Minmetals Central and South Asia Vice-President Wang Jicheng, also addressed the forum.

Agreements, joint ventures

Among the agreements and partnerships announced at the forum were joint ventures between Turkiye’s Lidiya Mining and Mari Minerals (Private) Limited for mineral exploration and development in Chagai and between the UK’s MSALABS and Mari Minerals to establish a commercial mineral assay laboratory in Pakistan.

Mari Minerals also announced a joint venture with Turkiye’s General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration (MTA) for the exploration and potential development of copper, gold and associated mineral deposits in Chagai, along with a partnership with Ivanhoe Atlantic.

The FWO signed an MoU with Ivanhoe Mines for mineral exploration and mining projects in Chagai.

Pakistan and Japan also announced plans to strengthen cooperation in geosciences and support the Geological Survey of Pakistan.

The GSP signed MoUs with Turkiye’s MTA, Germany’s Fed­eral Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), and the British Geological Survey to enhance cooperation in geosciences.

Turkiye’s MTA International Company (MTAIC) and the Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation (PMDC) announced a joint venture for the exploration of antimony, copper, gold, silver, molybdenum and other critical minerals in Pishin, Balochistan.

Another joint venture was announced between International Geosciences Services and PMDC for gemstone resource assessment.

Two other agreements announced at the forum involved Globacore Min­erals supporting advanced geophysical investigations in Pakistan and Fleet SpaceANT for ambient noise tomography, the organisers said.

Syed Irfan Raza also contributed to this report

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2026

LOS ANGELES: Jessica Pegula saved a match point on the way to a three-set victory over Linda Noskova on Thursday to book her WTA Finals last-four berth as Coco Gauff was eliminated.

Fifth-ranked American Pegula fired a career-high 16 aces to come up with a 7-6(7/2), 4-6, 7-5 victory in the must-win match against Wimbledon champion Noskova.

Her triumph, in the final group one round-robin match, meant world number four Gauff was eliminated from the elite season-ending event despite her gritty 6-4, 7-5 victory over Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk.

“Linda’s such a great player,” Pegula said. “Every time we’ve played, if you see the scoreline of our past matches, it’s literally the same match every time… I knew I was going to get my chances.

“I felt like I did in the second, but then, you know, she’s a Grand Slam champion, she’s a great player and she did a great job to turn the match around. And then I had to do the same in the third,” she added.

Noskova had already secured her semi-final spot with a pair of round-robin wins and she was on the brink of finishing with a perfect group record with a match point at 5-4 in the third.

Pegula escaped, firing an ace on game point, then broke Noskova in the next game. She closed out the win on her first match point.

Pegula finished second in the group behind Noskova and on Saturday will face group two winner Mirra Andreeva — just a week after a microphone installed to capture “ambient sound” on a practice court caught Pegula describing the Russian teen as a “diva”.

Andreeva said after her opening match that Pegula had reached out to apologise and she considered the matter closed.

GAUFF’S WIN NOT ENOUGH

Gauff had done what she could to stay alive.

Trailing 5-1 in the second set against Kostyuk she saved three set points in the seventh game to launch a run of six straight games to seize the match.

The first set had also been a battle. Broken in the opening game, Gauff appeared to have seized control when she broke Kostyuk for a second time for a 4-2 lead then held for 5-2.

Kostyuk looked demoralized as she took a medical timeout for treatment on her right wrist.

But after having the wrist taped she came back to hold serve then broke Gauff as the American served for the set — Gauff helping her out with a pair of double faults.

Gauff regrouped to take the set, but surrendered two breaks to trail 3-0 in the second before receiving treatment for what she later said was back tightness.

Despite nine double faults, however, Gauff prevailed in one hour and 39 minutes.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2026